Correlation of adolescents internalizing problem behavior with genetic and environmental factors / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the relationship of adolescents internalizing problem behavior with genetic and environmental factors. Methods The internalizing problem behavior of 74 twin pairs from Chongqing(aged from 12 to18 years) were investigated using The Youth Self-Report (YSR). The family adaptability and cohesion evaluationscale 2nd edition Chinese version (FACES Ⅱ-CV), Family Stresses Questionnaire (FSQ), the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ), Stressful Life Event (SLE) and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ ) were applied to assess their environment factors and coping style. The blood sample was collected to verify zygosity of twins. Structural equation modeling (SEM)was performed to evaluate the relationship of adolescents internalizing problem behavior with the additive genetic factors(A),shared environment factors(C)and individual specific environmental factors(E). Results The scores of PSDQ and FSQ FACES Ⅱ-CV SCSQ were no significantly different between homozygotic and dizygotic twins(P>0.05).There were significantly negative correlation between internalizing problem behavior and family cohesion (r=0.223, P=0.011).The scores of adolescent internalizing problem behavior were positively correlated with the scores of family stresses(r=0.232, P=0.008), the scores of Authoritarian-parenting-style(r=0.206, P=0.018), the scores of negative coping style (r=0.408, P=0.001);the scores of adolescents internalizing behavioral problems were not significantly correlated with the scores of the stress life events, and the scores of the parenting education level and occupation.The effects of A and E on adolescent internalizing problem behavior were 0.51(95%CI0.27~0.69)and 0.49 (95% CI 0.31~0.73) respectively. Conclusion Environmental factors and genetic factors contribute equally to adolescents internalizing problem behavior, which is affected by the authoritarian-parenting-style, family stresses, family cohesion and negative coping style.